PHOBIA PUTS PLAYOFF FEAR INTO LARIATS
OKLAHOMA CITY--In a preview of semifinal playoff action, the Philadelphia Phobia coasted home with a comfortable 83-65 cross-over road win against the Oklahoma City Lariats.
The game concluded Season 43's regular season schedule, with the Phobia finishing with a league best 9-1 mark, first-place in the tough East Division, while Oklahoma City ends in second in the West at 5-5, taking a three-game losing streak into the post-season.
POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
Philadelphia 12 - 3 - 2 - 6 Total=23
Oklahoma City 0 - 0 - 2 - 4 Total=6
TOP PLAYERS IN POINTS PREVENTED
1. Sloppy Dollop, Philadelphia 6
2. Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia 5
3. Poodle "Stix" Jackson, Philadelphia 4
3. Red Reparee, Philadelphia 4
PLAYERS OF GAME
Philadelphia's four-year point guard COLQUITT CROIX finished off the regular season in fine style, notching his fourth POG, which ties Naf Naf of Charleston and YourMajesty Lumpkins of San Jose for the most in the circuit. He entered this game sixth in the guard rankings and trailing Naf for the second All-MBA guard spot 23.5 to 24.4. This effort just might put him over the top. Croix scored a game-high 24 points that included 9 for 11 shooting (a perfect 4 for 4 from deep) and 2 for 2 from the foul stripe. He also grabbed 3 boards and tied for game-high in assists with 4. Additionally, the point guard was second in the game in preventing points. He entered the game needing 27 points to tie Naf for the scoring title, falling just 3 points short. This gives Croix a 19.7 ppg scoring average, the first time in his career he has not reached 20 per game. It also makes him runner-up for the scoring crown to Naf for the fourth consecutive season.
Philadelphia power forward SLOPPY DOLLOP returned to the familiar environs of Oklahoma City for the first time in this game along with teammate Akbar Zagobia. Dollop gave his old fans a painful reminder of what they were missing. The fourth-year, 6-7 leaper scored 17 points grabbed a team-high 6 boards, dished a game-high (tied) 4 assists, stole a game-high (tied) 2 and blocked a game-high 2 shots. He was 8 for 14 from the floor, including 5 high-flying dunks , while going 1 for 1 at the foul stripe. He came into the game needing 2 steals to tie Potus Obama of Sacramento for the steals championship, with both ending up with 10. He was also outstanding on defense in this game as the top player at preventing points in the contest.
Other 20-Plus GVP performers
-- Shooting guard Brownie McShytles of Oklahoma City had a fine game against his old club, scoring 15 points, grabbing 2 rebounds and handing out a team-best (tied) 3 assists.
-- Second-year power forward Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson continues to out-play preseason expectations, getting 15 points, grabbing 2 boards, getting 1 assist, 1 block and tying for game-high with 2 steals.
-- Forward Bang-Bang Reiner of Oklahoma City solidified his first All-MBA foil star with a performance that included a team-high 16 points, a game-high 8 rebounds, a team-high (tied) 3 assists and 1 steal. He came into the game third in the league in scoring, needing 25 points to overtake Naf Naf for the league's top forward spot.
Game Notes: Diss Reflexia's first game back from injury was not good enough to overtake Hunk R. Down of San Jose as All-MBA center. But Philly is happy to have him back all the same.
The cross-over win by Philadelphia gives a final commanding tally of 7-3 in wins vs. losses for the East Division.
Finally, in his final campaign, Oklahoma City point guard Mel A. Noma need 3 assists to tie forward Wawa Wewa of Charleston for the assists title. He was able to procure just that many, giving him a second such individual championship. It also marks the first time in the 43-season history of the league that a non-guard (Wewa) won an assist title.
FINAL STANDINGS
East Division (no changes since last bracket)
1st -- Philadelphia 9-1 (predicted 2nd)
2nd -- Chicago 7-3 (predicted 4th)
3rd -- Dallas 6-4 (predicted 3rd)
4th -- Charleston 5-5 (ended with 3-game winning streak) (predicted 1st)
Last --Milwaukee 0-10 (second team ever to go without a victory) (predicted last)
West Division
1st -- San Jose 8-2 (predicted 1st)
2nd -- Oklahoma City 5-5 (predicted 4th)
3rd -- Los Angeles 4-6 (division wins tie-breaker) (up from 4th) (predicted 2nd)
4th -- Sacramento 4-6 (down from 3rd) (predicted 3rd)
Last -- Seattle 2-8 (predicted last)
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